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IHG and Chase have a cobranded card portfolio. There's the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, review, which is the premium cobrand card. Then there's the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card, review, which is the basic card.
IHG Premier Card provides some amazing perks that will more than pay the annual fee, even for those who aren't IHG loyalists. These perks come with some restrictions, so I wanted to explain how they work in this post.
IHG Premier Card Benefits
IHG Premier Card has some special benefits such as:
You will receive a 150,000 IHG Rewards Club point welcome bonus after you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. The $89 annual fee for the first year is waived.
Each year you receive a free night certificate upon your account anniversary. Valid at any property that sells for more than 40,000 IHG Rewards club points per night
You get a fourth night free when you book an award booking.
IHG Rewards Club Points get 20% Off
IHG Rewards Club Platinum status as long as your card is active
TSA Pre-Check Credit or Global Entry Fee Credit every four years
These are some great perks. I've been asked many questions about the IHG Premier Card benefits. This post will provide more information about some of these benefits.
What is the Fourth Night Free Benefit?
The best thing about the IHG Premier Card? It offers a fourth night free when you redeem your award points. It is unclear how this benefit works and when the cost of the fourth-night will be reimbursed.
This benefit allows you to deduct the cost of the fourth hotel night when you book your award. After you have your card, visit IHGs website and make a booking. Before you click confirm, the cost for the fourth night will be deducted.
For example, an InterContinental London Park Lane might cost around 65,000 points per person (IHG dynamic award pricing means that the rates can change each night).
I was asked to pay 196,000 points for a four-night stay. The fourth night is considered complimentary.
This could be because you haven't been using the card long enough. This benefit can take up to a few days to kick in.
This is great because you will only need to spend three nights in order to book the booking.
This benefit is available for unlimited use and you can use it for back to back stays. In other words, you can book eight consecutive night at one hotel and get two more nights, or multiple rooms at the same hotel for the same nights. You can also use it at Six Senses properties which are gradually being integrated into IHG Rewards Club.
To redeem points, you must stay at least four nights consecutively at one hotel. This means that you cannot stay at the same hotel for two nights and get one night free.
All four nights must be booked as one point reservation. You cannot book one night with a night certificate for free and three nights with points to get the third night free.
Enjoy a fourth night at InterContinental Los Angeles
Can you stack the Fourth Night Free Benefit with the 10% Rebate?
IHG Premier Card gives you a fourth night for free when you award points. The old IHG Select Card provides a 10% rebate when points are redeemed (this benefit is limited to a maximum of 100,000 points per annum). If you have both cards, one common question is whether the two benefits can be combined. Yes.
This is an amazing opportunity to combine benefits. Let's say you stay at a hotel for 50,000 points per night.
Four-night stays cost 150,000 points. The fourth night is free. You would be reimbursed 15,000 points. This means that you pay just 135,000 point for the four nights. This is an average of 33.750 points per night or a discount 32.5%.
Although the terms stipulate that the 10% rebate must be posted within eight weeks of your stay, I have found it to usually post within a few days.
Enjoy a 32.5% discount on a stay at InterContinental Phu Quoc
Are you eligible to earn two anniversary night certificates?
I believe the IHG Premier Card's single greatest perk is the free night certificate that is offered every year on account anniversary. The IHG Select Card, which is no longer available to new applicants, also provides the same benefit.
Are you able to get two anniversary night free certificates each year? If you have both the cards, yes. This perk is quite cool, as it allows you to use the card for both overnight stays and longer stays. You could get four night certificates if you and your friend have both the cards.
Your anniversary certificate is valid at Crowne Plaza Changi.
Is the IHG 20% discount on points possible when combined with a sale?
IHG Premier Card gives you a 20% discount on points purchased. This is not valid when IHG offers a discount for points purchased. I would normally consider purchasing points.
IHG offers points that can be purchased for as low as 20%, and sometimes up to 75-100% bonus.
You'll notice that the discount will automatically be applied to your points purchase when it is available. I find this a very useful benefit, but it is almost never worth the cost.
It is not worth purchasing IHG points to receive 20% off
What is the TSA Pre-Check/Global Credit?
TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry fee credits are available on the IHG Premier Card once every four years. Either one is available, but Global Entry is generally better as it comes with TSA pre-check. The statement credit will post within 24 hours of your eligible purchase appearing on the account.
All that matters is that you pay the fee to your card. If you have a Global Entry membership or TSA Precheck membership, you can share this with a friend or relative.
Great perks include Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check
When does IHG Platinum status post to your account?
You can get platinum status with IHG just for holding the IHG Premier card. This status will automatically be posted to your account. It is determined by having the correct IHG Rewards Club Number linked to your account.
Although the terms say that the status will be posted within 6-8 weeks, in reality, it often posts much sooner than that.
IHG Platinum status allows you to upgrade your room.
Bottom line
IHG Premier Card is a great card. The card's Platinum status, fourth-night free on awards and annual free night make it a worthwhile card. Even if you aren't a loyal IHG customer, I would recommend it. This is especially true when you consider the current bonus which is fantastic.
I highly recommend that you apply if you don't have the card yet.
